FIANNA FÁIL MEP Brian Crowley has written to all Fianna Fáil TDs, Senators and MEPs confirming his intention to seek the party’s nomination for the presidential election. Mr Crowley argues that the party should field a candidate and mount a serious campaign.
The party has delayed making a decision on running a candidate until early September.
Many TDs and Senators have privately expressed the view that the party will not contest the election but will endorse an independent candidate. The rationale is that it is too early to contest an election following the party’s annihilation in the general election.
Mr Crowley's letter, which has been seen by The Irish Times, asserted that Fianna Fáil was capable of conducting a successful campaign with him as its candidate. "I believe I have the character and competence to communicate that spirit which defines our country, our people and our history."
Mr Crowley also referred to previous conversations with party leader Michéal Martin and his commitment not to make any public statements before the party decided its strategy on whether to run a candidate. “However, we are now in the run-up to decision time in early September and many of you have asked me to reconfirm my position, which is the reason for this correspondence.”
